Rubber Tubing, Silicon

Quick Answer: The Rubber Tubing, Silicon is silicone rubber tubing: translucent, soft and flexible tubing made from silicone elastomer, used for water, culture media, air and gases and in peristaltic pumps, and valued because it generally stays flexible from well below freezing to high temperatures and can usually be autoclaved.

Properties That Set Silicone Apart

Silicone is a synthetic rubber built on a silicon-oxygen backbone, which is why product listings often call it ‘silicon’ tubing. Compared with natural rubber, it generally tolerates a much wider temperature range, commonly quoted as roughly -50 °C to +200 °C, resists ageing by ozone and light, and has a smooth, low-tack surface. Its translucency lets users see liquid flow and air bubbles in the line.

These properties explain its use in biology and microbiology: the tubing can be autoclaved with media bottles and fermenters, it recovers well after repeated squeezing in peristaltic pumps, and it does not turn sticky with age. It is less suited to organic chemistry, since it swells in hydrocarbons, some chlorinated solvents and oils, and it is relatively permeable to gases, which matters for oxygen-sensitive work.

Silicone tubing is made with different curing systems. The site also lists Platinum Cured Tubing, Silicon, a grade selected where low extractables matter, for example in cell culture or pharmaceutical fluid transfer. The curing system of this general listing is not stated and can be checked when ordering.

Specifications

Applications

• Peristaltic pump lines for dosing media, reagents and samples.
• Autoclavable connections on media bottles, fermenters and bioreactors.
• Air and gas lines for aeration in microbiology and aquaculture set-ups.
• Water connections to condensers and cooling jackets where heat resistance helps.

Care & Handling

• Check the tubing’s autoclave rating, and autoclave with clamps loosened so the wall is not left permanently compressed.
• Keep the tubing away from sharp edges; once nicked, silicone tears more easily than natural rubber.
• Wash it with warm detergent solution and rinse; avoid prolonged contact with oils and hydrocarbon solvents.
• Move the section inside a peristaltic pump head periodically to spread wear.

Why Choose LabEquip

Microbiology, biotechnology and pharmacy labs are the main buyers of silicone rubber tubing, often in several bore sizes for pumps and media lines. LabEquip lists it in General Lab Products; send bore sizes and lengths through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is silicon tubing the same as silicone tubing?

Yes, in product names. Silicon is the chemical element; silicone is the rubber made from silicon, oxygen and organic groups. This tubing is silicone rubber.

Can silicone tubing be autoclaved?

It is commonly autoclavable at 121 °C. Check this tubing’s rating before sterilising, and loosen clamps so the tube is not squeezed while hot.

Why is silicone tubing used in peristaltic pumps?

It is soft and elastic and recovers its round shape after each squeeze of the pump rollers, giving steady flow over many cycles.

Can silicone tubing carry organic solvents?

It is not recommended for most hydrocarbons, oils and many chlorinated solvents, which make silicone swell. Alcohols and aqueous solutions are generally compatible; check other chemicals individually.

What is the difference between standard and platinum-cured silicone tubing?

They differ in the curing system used to make the rubber. Platinum-cured tubing is generally chosen where low extractables matter, such as cell culture or pharmaceutical transfer.

Why do gases pass through silicone tubing?

Silicone rubber is relatively permeable to oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour. That suits some aeration uses, but gas-tight or oxygen-free lines need a less permeable tubing.

Last Updated: September 2026